Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Phoenix, Arizona- Emo/alternative band Commoner have released their debut album, “Former Self” today via Pure Noise Records. Alongside the release comes new single and video “Cobalt Blue (FT Split Chain)”.
““Cobalt Blue“ is a “coming of age” song. The fear of failing the people you want to show up for most. The strain that is put on you as you grow older, and the weight that follows. We wanted track one on the record to be something you could always relate to, as you continue to grow.” says the band.
Album “Former Self” is produced by long-time collaborator Zach Tuch and is an album that’s very much about looking back at the past, it’s as equally concerned with moving forward. After all, your former self could be a version of you from a decade ago—or from yesterday—and even in the six months since the previous track “Breach” came out, the band’s style has evolved. “Breach”, the band say, was a stop-gap, an introduction, a bridge between the past and the present. “Former Self”, somewhat ironically given its title, is a full-hearted representation of who Commoner are now.
“The album has a lot of themes of childhood and your own former self,” says Bryant, “but it also discusses how people around you have changed—and missing somebody else’s former self. We have songs that look back on how you yourself used to be back in the day, but we have songs about how everyone else has changed too.”
It all makes for a moving document about human nature, about the inevitability of growing older, of the self-awareness that who you are isn’t who you were, even if it feels that way. It’s a joint commiseration, celebration and commemoration, all wrapped up in one, but delivered with the exuberance and promise of youth.
““Former Self“ is a window of reflection for each of our lives. For what it’s been and how we’ve learned to move forward. People change, situations change, life is full of it. As a band, we have always gravitated towards the works of bands who touch on moments of time as they are your own. Instances in which the experience has felt shared, rather than being preached. Our debut full length was a meditative piece for all of the members, and has allowed us to close a chapter in our writing that we had all felt needed conclusion.” – Romin Mattison (Vocals)
“Former Self” Tracklist:
